Odisha plans to auction 10 major, 12 minor mineral blocks in 2023-24

BHUBANESWAR: The state government is planning to auction 10 major and 12 minor mineral blocks in the financial year 2023-24. Steel and mines minister Prafulla Kumar Mallik said this in the state assembly on Monday.
Four out of the ten mineral blocks are situated in Sundargarh district. These are Koira iron ore block, Alaghat West iron ore, Jhumka-Pathiriposhi West iron ore and Tunmura limestone and dolomite mine. Gandhalpada West iron ore block is part of Sundargarh and Keonjhar districts.
While Nunapaimalli bauxite block and Sargiguda graphite block are in Rayagada district, Roida-I iron ore block and Rengalberha north east extension and Nuagaon West iron block are in Keonjhar district. Karlapat bauxite block in Kalahandi district is the biggest one among these blocks which has 1822 hectares of land.
The state will also auction 12 specified minor mineral blocks in Gajapati district. These are decorative stone blocks found in Nuagaon, Lausahi, Jhadpada, Betarsing block A and B, Nuagan (Nuagad), Damba, Baharpada-Jamurhiha East and West, Tentulikhunti, Derab East and Derab West.
Last year, eight major and two minor mineral blocks were auctioned by the state. “Right now, it is not possible to estimate the revenue Odisha will get from the mines auctioned this financial year,” said the minister in his reply.
On the allegation of smuggling of minor minerals in the state, Mallik in his written reply said vehicles transporting minor minerals are being checked by squads formed at tehsil, sub-division and district level. Special police are being deployed at smuggling-prone tehsils. They collect fines from vehicles illegally transporting minor minerals, he added.
Activist Prafulla Samantara and others have been requesting the state government to stop auctioning of new mines in seven virgin forests including Gandhalpada and Karlapat. Seven out of ten mineral blocks are in virgin areas, he added.
They demanded conservation of virgin forests for intergenerational equity and justice. They also suggested the government conduct a deep study on impacts by mining in these areas. The mining in virgin forests will also affect the livelihood of thousands of tribal families and forest dwellers, he added.